Changes ongoing within church

Brynn Whaley

Many events have happened in the past General Conferences of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Most of these events have been life changing and very exciting.

In 1978, at the 148th Semiannual General Conference, a revelation from President Spencer W. Kimball was accepted that gave the church’s temple blessings and priesthood to all worthy males — regardless of race or color.

Just last year, in the 2012 October General Conference, the age restriction for missionaries was reduced. Previously the missionary age for men was 19 and for women it was 21. Now men can leave for their missions at 18 and women can leave at the age of 19. Because of this change, thousands of new missionaries have turned in their papers and are now serving their own mission for the LDS Church.

The most recent event that has happened at General Conference, which was broadcast earlier this month, was the wonderful and long-awaited moment — women offered and gave prayers for the general session. According to the pros this has been something that has never happened before.

Recently many other things have been in the newspaper and all over the news about women and their roles and rights in the LDS Church. There have been boycotts of dresses and the desire to wear pants to church just like men, so that there is no “inequality” between the two parties. Also there has been a push for women to be able to receive and have the priesthood. A website about this issue has been created and is called Ordain Women (http://ordainwomen.org).

With all of this I have to say personally that I disagree with what is going on and what is being pushed for. One, I think that wearing pants just to say that we are equal to men and we have the same rights to wear suit pants just as they do is silly to me. Do men have the same rights as us women to wear dresses and skirts just to be equal to us? No, I think not. To wear a dress and a skirt is a sign of courtesy and respect. There is a reason why it is called Sunday best.

All these things I have just talked about have been sort of a touchy subject lately and very interesting, I might add. I myself do not know everything that is going on and everything that is being pushed for and why, but I do know where I stand.

To be different is to be great! I say different instead of unequal because women differ from men. We each play certain roles and do certain things. There is no special treatment given to either person. We each are unique and special; all we have to do is remember that.

Brynn Whaley is a sophomore at Syracuse High School. Email her at bookworm8brynnie@gmail.com.